Puck · Mid (pos. 2)
Puck Guide
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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
Puck is a ranged Intelligence hero that Valve tags as Disabler, Escape and Initiator. It is played mainly as Mid (pos. 2): 96% of the public matches we measured, by starting lane and starting items. In this guide you play it as Mid (pos. 2): your job is to win the solo lane, control the runes and create pressure on the other lanes. The kit brings crowd control (silence) with Waning Rift, mobility with Illusory Orb and sustain with Puckish. Its ultimate is Dream Coil. This patch, Puck wins 47.1% of the 106,175 public matches we measured (C tier on our ladder).
Strengths
- Reliable silence: Waning Rift sets up kills and interrupts enemy channels.
- Mobility: Illusory Orb gets Puck in and out of fights.
- Sustain from Puckish to stay in lane and in fights.
- Heavy magical burst: Valve lists it as a Nuker.
Weaknesses
- Low base armor (0): vulnerable to physical harass early on.
- Tough patch: wins only 47.1% of measured public matches.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Most-played buildBalancedRecommendedThe items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Puck players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Damage buildOffensiveAdvancedMoves the popular items that add damage — Witch Blade and Parasma — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Puck players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Survival buildDefensiveSituationalPrioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Aeon Disk and Eul's Scepter of Divinity. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Puck players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Team utility buildUtilitySituationalBuilt around the popular items that help your allies — Witch Blade and Eul's Scepter of Divinity. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Puck players buy in the public matches we measured.
Builds
Most-played build
When to use it
The items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Puck players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
198%- MidMain98% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Witch Blade
- 2Blink Dagger
- 3Aghanim's Shard
- 4Aeon Disk
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Illusory Orb›Waning Rift›Phase Shift
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- +350 Waning Rift Radius/Max Distance-30s Dream Coil Cooldown25
- +200 Initial/Break Dream Coil Damage-2.5s Waning Rift Cooldown20
- +2% Puckish Health and Mana Restoration+60 Waning Rift Damage15
- +1.25s Waning Rift Silence Duration+35 Illusory Orb Damage10
Damage build
When to use it
Moves the popular items that add damage — Witch Blade and Parasma — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Puck players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
198%- MidMain98% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Witch Blade+40 Attack Speed, +12 Intelligence, +1.5 Mana Regeneration.
- 2Parasma+40 Intelligence, +40 Attack Speed, +7 Armor.
- 3Maelstrom+25 Damage, +25 Attack Speed.
- 4Mjollnir+25 Damage, +90 Attack Speed. Active: Static Charge.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Illusory Orb›Waning Rift›Phase Shift
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- +350 Waning Rift Radius/Max Distance-30s Dream Coil Cooldown25
- +200 Initial/Break Dream Coil Damage-2.5s Waning Rift Cooldown20
- +2% Puckish Health and Mana Restoration+60 Waning Rift Damage15
- +1.25s Waning Rift Silence Duration+35 Illusory Orb Damage10
Survival build
When to use it
Prioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Aeon Disk and Eul's Scepter of Divinity. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Puck players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
198%- MidMain98% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Aeon Disk+250 Health, +300 Mana, 105.0 / 125.0 / 145.0 / 165.0 Cooldown.
- 2Eul's Scepter of Divinity+10 Intelligence, +2.5 Mana Regeneration, +20 Movement Speed. Active: Cyclone.
- 3Force Staff+10 Intelligence, +175 Health. Active: Force.
- 4Linken's Sphere+16 All Attributes, +6.5 Health Regeneration, +4.25 Mana Regeneration. Active: Transfer Spellblock.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Illusory Orb›Waning Rift›Phase Shift
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- +350 Waning Rift Radius/Max Distance-30s Dream Coil Cooldown25
- +200 Initial/Break Dream Coil Damage-2.5s Waning Rift Cooldown20
- +2% Puckish Health and Mana Restoration+60 Waning Rift Damage15
- +1.25s Waning Rift Silence Duration+35 Illusory Orb Damage10
Team utility build
When to use it
Built around the popular items that help your allies — Witch Blade and Eul's Scepter of Divinity. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Puck players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
198%- MidMain98% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Witch Blade+40 Attack Speed, +12 Intelligence, +1.5 Mana Regeneration.
- 2Eul's Scepter of Divinity+10 Intelligence, +2.5 Mana Regeneration, +20 Movement Speed. Active: Cyclone.
- 3Parasma+40 Intelligence, +40 Attack Speed, +7 Armor.
- 4Linken's Sphere+16 All Attributes, +6.5 Health Regeneration, +4.25 Mana Regeneration. Active: Transfer Spellblock.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Illusory Orb›Waning Rift›Phase Shift
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● |
Talents by level
- +350 Waning Rift Radius/Max Distance-30s Dream Coil Cooldown25
- +200 Initial/Break Dream Coil Damage-2.5s Waning Rift Cooldown20
- +2% Puckish Health and Mana Restoration+60 Waning Rift Damage15
- +1.25s Waning Rift Silence Duration+35 Illusory Orb Damage10
Abilities
- Illusory Orb12 / 11 / 10 / 9s90 / 100 / 110 / 120 mpVector Targeted. Puck launches a magic orb that travels along the path, damaging enemy units along the way. The orb deals an additional 3% of its impact damage every 0.5s in its area of effect, but if it exceeds the max cast range it will be destroyed.
At any point, Puck may teleport to the orb's location using Ethereal Jaunt.
Can be put on alt-cast to launch the Orb straight ahead.
- Radius
- 225
- Max distance
- 1950
- Speed
- 750
- Impact damage
- 70·140·210·280
- Max orb duration
- 5.2
- Waning Rift16 / 15 / 14 / 13s100 / 110 / 120 / 130 mpPuck teleports to the target location and releases a burst of faerie dust that deals damage and silences enemy units nearby.
- Radius
- 400
- Duration
- 2·2.5·3·3.5
- Damage
- 60·120·180·240
- Max distance
- 350
- Phase Shift8 / 7.5 / 7 / 6.5sCHANNELED - Puck briefly shifts into another dimension where it is immune from harm.
- Duration
- 1·1.75·2.5·3.25
Ethereal JauntTeleports Puck to a flying Illusory Orb.
PuckishPassiveWhenever Puck disjoints an attack, it restores 3% of its max health and mana. Dodging a targeted spell projectile restores 3x that amount. Does not apply to attacks by Towers.- Dream Coil75s125 / 175 / 225 mpCreates a coil of volatile magic that latches onto enemy Heroes, damaging and leashing them. If the enemy hero stretches the coil by moving too far away, it snaps, stunning and dealing additional damage.
- Coil duration
- 5·5.5·6
- Break radius
- 600
- Initial damage
- 175·250·325
- Break stun duration
- 1.5·2·2.5
- Break damage
- 200·300·400
Most played skill order
The most played order in the last 100 professional matches with this hero. Highlighted levels are the points spent on talents.
Max order:Illusory Orb›Waning Rift›Phase Shift
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● |
Strategy
1Early game
Mid is a one-on-one: whoever has more last hits and levels usually wins it. Contest the power runes every two minutes and use a good one to gank a side lane. Trade when the enemy mid goes for a last hit and when you are a level ahead: in the solo lane each level is a real edge.
- Early items: Bottle and Null Talisman.
2Mid game
With Witch Blade, you should be the one starting the action: gank, push out lanes and take towers with your team. Your spikes are level 6, when Dream Coil comes online, and your core items: Witch Blade and then Blink Dagger.
- Core items: Witch Blade, Blink Dagger and Aghanim's Shard.
3Late game
Late, choose your fights: you still hit hard, but the enemy carry catches up. Stay with the team and look for picks with vision.
- Late items: Parasma and Octarine Core.
4Team fights
Your damage decides the opening seconds: look for the enemy support or carry out of position, and use Dream Coil where it hits the most heroes.
Tips
- Check the power runes at every even minute and gank with the good ones.
- Witch Blade is your first big spike: once you have it, leave the lane and look for kills.
- Push the wave into the enemy tower before you rotate, or the lane punishes you twice.
- Plan fights around Dream Coil: without it, Puck is far less threatening.
- Keep Illusory Orb for getting out, not for chasing.
Matchups
Strong against
- Silencer62.9%win rate in the matchup
Puck wins 62.9% of the 116 games measured against Silencer this patch.
116 matches
- Terrorblade60.2%win rate in the matchup
Puck wins 60.2% of the 103 games measured against Terrorblade this patch.
103 matches
- Dark Willow58.4%win rate in the matchup
Puck wins 58.4% of the 113 games measured against Dark Willow this patch.
113 matches
- Underlord57.8%win rate in the matchup
Puck wins 57.8% of the 135 games measured against Underlord this patch.
135 matches
- Invoker57.5%win rate in the matchup
Puck wins 57.5% of the 106 games measured against Invoker this patch.
106 matches
Weak against
- Nature's Prophet40.2%win rate in the matchup
Puck only wins 40.2% of the 102 games measured against Nature's Prophet this patch.
102 matches
- Centaur Warrunner41.0%win rate in the matchup
Puck only wins 41.0% of the 188 games measured against Centaur Warrunner this patch.
188 matches
- Night Stalker42.3%win rate in the matchup
Puck only wins 42.3% of the 137 games measured against Night Stalker this patch.
137 matches
- Primal Beast43.0%win rate in the matchup
Puck only wins 43.0% of the 121 games measured against Primal Beast this patch.
121 matches
- Axe43.6%win rate in the matchup
Puck only wins 43.6% of the 163 games measured against Axe this patch.
163 matches
Works well with
Dream Coil from Puck holds enemies in place for Static Storm from Disruptor.
Dream Coil from Puck holds enemies in place for Soulbind from Grimstroke.
Dream Coil from Puck holds enemies in place for Chakram from Timbersaw.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 7.41.
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